Re: US Coast Guard
Yesterday I was out fishing with a woman that I just started seeing. We were having a great time, fishing a little but mostly talking and getting to know one another. Not long before the approach of sunset, a Wildlife and Fisheries boat approached and pulled up along side of us for an "inspection." This inspection consisted entirely of a question as to whether we had two PFDs. Since we were at anchor in a protected bay, we didn't have them on but mine was draped over the windshield, and hers was sitting on a seat. The officers smiled when they saw them, and thanked us for our time. We then engaged in a little "isn't it a great day" chit chat and said goodbye to one another. That was it - they didn't even ask if we had caught any fish and, if so, how many.
So, we had an exchange of about two minutes with a couple of guys who were merely interested in our well being. Jack booted thugs? I don't think so. More like, just a couple of nice guys who saw a boat that wasn't moving in a somewhat remote area, and decided to make sure all was well while doing a PFD check at the same time.
As for staring at the barrels of M16s, I stared at them for months after Hurricane Katrina. The were ANG personnel, hummers, helicopters, and sand colored trucks of various descriptions, all over the place. There were also military checkpoints in different locations. I had to show my "papers" (driver's license to show address) at one, just so I could return to my house shortly after the storm. I also had to obtain a special pass to move in and out of my Parish, and I had to pass through a military checkpoint, just to go to the only big box home improvement store that was open for weeks after the storm. Then there were the curfews and total access restrictions - simply put, if you violated them, you were subject to immediate arrest.
I doubt that there are more than a handful of people frequenting the iboats forums who have ever lived under martial law for any period of time. The message that I would like to deliver to those of you who have not, but feel that a simple vessel inspection is a gross violation of your civil liberties, is that you need to put things in perspective. Even if the boarding officers are a bit obnoxious (yes, I have run into those too), displaying a positive and open demeanor usually calms things down very quickly. From that point, as long as you are doing nothing wrong, things tend to go smoothly and the encounter is over in a few minutes. Contrasted with having a nervous 18 year old actually pointing an M16 at your head, because he came across you in the process of checking out a friend's house for her, the occassional boat inspection really isn't a big deal.
